Glossary in Election and Representation

Glossary

Election : A formal and organised choice by vote of a person for a political office or other position.

Representation : The action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone.

Franchise : The right to vote in public elections.

Voting : Go to the polls, mark one`s ballot paper

Electoral system : The way in which votes can be translated into elected representatives

Psephology : The statistical study of elections and trends in voting.

Plurality : Number of votes cast for a candidate who receives more than any other but does not receive an absolute majority

Panchayat : A village council in India

Minority representation : The number of elected candidates supporting the minority positions.

Factionalism : Arguments or disputes between two or more small groups from within a larger group.

Democracy : A system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives

Delimitation : The act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province having a legislative body.

Electoral Roll/ voters`list : Grouping of candidates for election

Nomination : The act of officially suggesting someone or something for a position.

Election campaign : A time when a politician or party try to persuade people to vote for them

Electoral reform : A change in electoral systems to improve how public desires are expressed in election results

Anti-defection law : Law passed in 1985 which disqualifies elected members on the grounds of defection to another party.

Constituency : A group of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.

Secret ballot : A voting method where voter`s choices are confidential

Voters` turnout : Percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election